The Winter Collection of artisan chocolates from Donna & Company reads like a dream: Pumpkin Caramel, Tiramasu, Cranberry Orange, Vanilla Honey, Egg Nog. Five perfect, hand-made pieces are packaged in a red gift box with magnetic ribbon closure. Other options include a 6-inch chocolate wreath with molded ribbon, pinecones and holly details (and more), or Organic Mission Figs stuffed with a rich ganache of local honey and port wine. Order online, or look in Whole Foods or Bon Appétit.
The Whole Earth Center has put together a great collection of handmade and natural gift items that are perfect for hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, office secret Santa, and thank you gifts for a special teacher or friend. And don’t forget their bakery, where you can order up all sorts of treats, both traditional and vegan, including house-made holiday fruitcakes, made with organic dried fruits.
For holiday entertainment, don’t forget Trenton’s Patriots’ Week, packed with special events including Dinner with George Washington at Settimo Cielo (12/28 @ 6:30p.m. 17 E. State St., make reservations at dinnerwithgeorgewashington.eventbrite.com.)
New Year’s Brunch is on at Rat’s, with hot breakfast dishes (and lunch favorites), including smoked fish, charcuterie, iced seafood, carving and omelet stations, all in the beautiful Grounds For Sculpture park setting. 11:00am-3:00pm, be sure to reserve by calling 609-584-7800.
Tre Piani celebrates Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the former with a Feast of the Seven Fishes. In between there’s a Home for the Holidays Open House Party, $20 per person. Happy Hour drink prices available; includes holiday buffet and live music. Hosted by Tre Piani and Princeton Music Connection. Details on all of this are here.
Brothers Moon’s new dinner menu is out, and take note that they are offering a prix fixe dinner Tuesday and Thursday, 3 courses for $37.00. Wednesday is mushroom night; a 4 course menu $47.00. They are open Christmas Eve 12-8 and New Year Eve 6-9:30, with a special menu for the latter.
It’s become almost a game with me, to try to make it to Main Street Bistro in the Princeton Shopping Center once a month to try something new on their monthly menu. December brings pan-seared red snapper, spinach and mushroom canelloni, and a host of other treats. But sometimes I backslide and just keep ordering their fish and chips. Why? Because it’s just so darned good! (Of course, you could also go to their Kingston shop for all sorts of take-home goodies.)
NJ SPICE 